What Happened to Civility?

 Rep. David Zuckerman  

Last week Republican Party Chairman Rob Roper put out a press release with the headline: Symington’s company boasts green thumb (but gives environment the finger).

The press release went on to attack Speaker Symington and myself because we are affiliated with the Intervale and therefore must be linked to the compost facility that’s recently run up against permit infractions.

Roper’s actions are unfortunate for a number of reasons. First, he’s wrong about the environmental issues. Perhaps more important though, is his tone. Do we really want to see politics in Vermont dragged to the nasty level coming out of Rove’s White House? Accusing me of some infraction because I farm at the Intervale is like accusing a tenant after their landlord is found breaking the law. It is ridiculous and unfounded. The environmental issues with the Compost Project, on the other hand, are serious.